David Miliband to chair youth unemployment task force

David Miliband is to chair a taskforce on youth unemployment, ACEVO has announced.

The taskforce will consider the potential role of the third sector in reducing youth unemployment, which current stands at 20.2 per cent - or 949,000 16-24 year olds. Evidence from across the public, private and third sectors will be considered by Miliband, who will be joined on the taskforce by a number of other experts including Katherine Kerswell, chief executive of Kent County Council, Professor Paul Gregg from Bristol University, Baroness Stedman-Scott, chief executive of Tomorrow's People, and Jonathan Portes, director of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research.

Source: David Miliband

"Hundreds of thousands of young people get the worst possible start to adult life in the form of sustained unemployment, said David Miliband MP. "It blights their futures and costs the country billions. I'm looking forward to talking to third sector organisations, local government, academic experts, businesses, further education institutions and young people so we can develop practical solutions to tackle this crippling problem that is threatening Britain's next generation."

Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of ACEVO, said: "I am delighted that David Miliband has agreed to chair this taskforce on youth unemployment. His extensive experience inside government and the world of policy-making make me confident we will produce a seminal report on what is surely one of the most important issues facing the country - the employment prospects of our young people."